Ben's Guide to U.S. Govt
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24 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 amend | To change the wording or meaning of a motion, bill, constitution, etc. by formal procedure. For example, Congress may amend the Constitution. |
| alien | A resident of another country who has not yet become a citizen of the country where s/he now lives. |
| American Revolution | The struggle by which the U.S. won independence from Great Britain (1775-1783) |
| Articles of Confederation | The first constitution of the 13 American states, adopted in 1781 and later replaced in 1789 by the Constitution of the U.S. |
| bas-relief | A 3-D sculpture in which the figures project slighyly from the background. Also called low relief. |
| census | A periodic, official count of the number of persond living in a country. |
| checks and balances | Limits imposed on all branches of government by giving each the right to amend acts of the other branches. |
| citizen | A member of a state or nation who owes allegiance t its government and is entitled to its protection. |
| congressional district | A divsion or part of a state; each district elects one person to the House of Representatives. |
| constituent | A person who is represented by an elected official. |
| Constitution | The document which establishes the basic principles of the American government. |
| delegate | A person who acts for or represents another to others. |
| Emancipation Proclamation | An order issued during the Civil War by President Lincoln ending slavery in the Confederate states. |
| Founding Fathers | The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. |
| hasty pudding | A backed dish made mostly of cornmeal, milk, and molasses. It's not pudding like Jell-O pudding, it's more of a mush. At the time, pudding was the term for the dessert course of a meal. |
| House of Representatives | One house of the Congress, members are granted to each state based upon its population. |
| immigrant | A person who moves from one country to another to live permanently. |
| macaroni | A fancy overdressed ("dandy") style of Italian clothing wideley imitated in England. When Yankee Doodle stuck a feather in his cap and called himself macaroni, he was proudly proclaiming himself to be a country bumpkin, because that was how the English regarded most colonials at that time. |
| national | A citizen of a nation who is entitled to its protection. |
| obelisk | An upright 4-sided usually monolithic pillar that gradually tapers as it rises and terminates in a pyramid. |
| sentinel | A soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all comers and prevent a surprise attack. |
| seperation of powers | The system of dividing the powers and duties of a government into different branches. |
| valor | Boldness or Bravery in facing great danger, especially in battle. |
| veto | To cancel or postpone a decision, bill etc. For example, the president of the U.S. may veto a bill that has been passed by Congress. |
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